RIYADH, 22nd May, 2018 (WAM) -- The official spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Col. Turki Al-Malki, confirmed that security investigations into a Turkish ship explosion, last week, showed that it was a deliberate attack coming out of Al-Hodeidah Port.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Col. Al-Malki added that the "Houthi militias bear the legal responsibility for violating international law and the law of the sea in the zone."

During the regular conference of the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition, Col. Al-Malki said that Al-Hodeidah Port became a point for smuggling ballistic missiles and for hostilities in the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab strait, pointing out that targeting of the Turkish ship will have grave repercussions on the environment as well as the safety of ships in the zone.

Col. Al-Malki said that the security investigation into all the data that led to the explosion did not find any suspicious material load on the ship, as it carries wheat coming from Russia. According to the story of the ship's captain and its crew, there was one boat that had approached the ship within four nautical miles on the radar before disappearing, as the ship was attacked by a missile.

Through the security investigation team, the missile penetrated the outer wall of the ship's hull and crashed the tank located on the side of the ship's wall. Col. Al-Malki also said that the Yemeni government has announced that the Houthi militias have detained many relief convoys and prevented relief teams from moving inside Yemen, describing these acts as a clear violation of Resolution 2216.

He also said that Yemen's air, sea and land relief ports are operating at full capacity, pointing out that the number of permits granted by the Coalition to the relief agencies reached 24,279, while the number of orders for not targeting the UN organisations inside Yemen reached 9,984.

Regarding the aid provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre within the comprehensive humanitarian operations in Yemen until 21st May, Col. Al-Malki said that the number of beneficiaries of this aid amounted to 4,475,828.

He praised the directives of the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which included a directive for the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen to visit Socotra Island, during which he announced the opening of the first office for the reconstruction of Yemen on the island.

Col. Al-Malki also said that the Yemeni National Army Forces supported by the Coalition Forces have achieved victory on the ground and on all fronts, highlighting the advancement of the National Army in Midi supported by the Coalition Forces.